We exist to preserve the traditional arts of the sailor through practice, promotion, and perpetuation and we invite you to join us!
What are “the Sailor Arts”?
The traditional sailor arts include knot tying, fancy ropework, canvas work, scrimshaw, and wood carving. All these arts were born at sea using the practical skills and materials available to traditional sailors but became rare as ship technology developed and the practical skills of sailors’ shifted accordingly. Yet the arts still exist among pockets of traditional sailing enthusiasts- including us! And we aim to share these arts as a way to help preserve these fading skills and promote this overlooked historical, folk art. We would love for you to join us in our mission!
Here are different ways you can join us in preserving these rich, seafaring traditions of art:
- Become a member. This can be as simple as signing up for our free newsletter, or by buying an official member t-shirt to keep you clothed and comfy while promoting the Society, or by purchasing our Membership Kits or Subscription Kits which enable you to be a hands on part of preserving the sailor arts by teaching you how to practice them yourself.
- Learn from our free educational resources. We suggest you start with our About the Sailor Arts page. Download some free PDFs. Watch our educational tutorials. Read our blog. These are free resources at no cost to you to help make the sailor arts accessible to everyone.
- Buy some of our educational products. Our educational kits are designed to make the sailor arts as accessible as possible by giving you all the materials, prep work, and information you need to jump right into learning the sailor arts for yourself. All kits include enough materials to learn with a friend or to create gifts for others which will further perpetuate the sailor arts! Have fun learning a new skill while saving a dying tradition for future generations! Now that’s a good hobby 🙂
- Buy our traditionally hand-crafted products. You can promote the sailor arts by displaying them in your own life and by supporting us being able to practice the traditional sailor arts ourselves. Your purchase also helps us find the time to develop and gather educational resources. Our products also make great gifts and come with educational tags so whomever you gift them to can learn about the sailor arts as well!
The strategy of the Sailor Arts Society is to be a dual educational and business platform as a way to preserve the traditional sailor arts. By buying our products, you allow us the time, money, and resources to continue to practice the sailor arts ourselves and to provide educational and promotional materials supporting the sailor arts!